Banjo



April 5, 1927.

w. 1.. LA-NGE BANJO a shets-snet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1923 ll/A/ Inven for:

William L. L arr/ 7 Kpru 5,1927. 1,623,735

) w. L. LANGE BANJO Filed 0ct.19, 1923 a Sheets-Sheet 2 In mentor.- Willz'am Lllange,

Ap 1927' w. 1.. LANGE BANJO Filed 0012.19, 192-3 5 Sheets-Sheet [n We ni'or:

B his any,

Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES i c i i 1,623,735

WILLIAM L. LANGE, OF NEW YORK, N.

BANJO.

Application filed October 19, 1923. Serial No. 669,533.

This invention relates to sound amplifying and tension devices for banjos, drums and similar musical instruments.

The invention relates particularly to im provements and modifications of the banjo shown and described in my United States patent application Serial No. 600,379 filed Nov. 11, 1922.

One object of the invention is to provide an instrun'ient of. this kind in which the amplifying means and the tension means cooperate to form an eflicient unitary structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved instrument which is adjustable to give full, sharp or intermediate tones.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device for tensioning the vellum of the instrument.

Other objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and elticiency of such devices and to provide a device or apparatus of this kind which is strong and durable, economical to manufacture and operate and which will not get out of order.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are de scribed, the invention is not limited to these since many and various changes may be made Without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of those and other objects are shown herein in connection with several improved constructions, which, briefly stated, include a rim having thereon a tone band having spaced lugs mounted on said rim, and an upper main portion spaced from said rim. Around these is disposed a one-piece outer casing or sound reflector having a large refleeting upper portion spaced from said band and rim. Said casing is formed also with an intermediate horizontal ledge and a lower horizon al portion also spaced from the rim. Bolts pass through said lugs, said rim and said horizontal portion and through spacing members disposed on the bolts between the rim and horizontal portion and thus secure the casing and rim together. A vellum disposed over said tone band and provided with a tension ring is tensioned by hooks or rods attached to the tension ring and having lower threaded ends passing through said ledge and *arrying nuts engaging the lower face of the ledge. Also Ishow two forms of amplifying backs which are adjustable to vary the chamber volume behind the vellum thereby to provide at will either full, sharp or intermediate tones.

In the accompanying drawing, showing by way of example, several of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a tragmental plan of one form of the banjo;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1, lookingin the direction ofthe arrow of said line;

Figs. 3 and 4 are partial similar views of another form of the invention; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views of still another form of the invention.

My improved banjo of Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a wooden rim 5 having fiat top and bottom faces 6 and 7, rounded lower edges 8 whereby the bottom face is narrowed. Vertical bolt holes 9 pass through the mid line of said faces. A solid aluminum tone band 10 mounted on the rim is provided with downwardly and inwardly slanting lugs 11 terminating in flat horizontal perforated ears 12 lying fiat on said upper face 6. The upper part of the band 10 comprises an upwardly tapering tone band or main portion 14 having a vertical outer face 15 and spaced from said rim whereby large sound openings 16 are formed between said lugs. Bolts 18 passing through said vertical holes 9 and said ears 12 are provided with nuts 19 resting on said ears and have countersunk heads 20 at the lower ends.

A one-piece annular outer casing 23 is provided with a vertical outer sound reflecting and amplifying portion 2a spaced from said ring and rim to term a large sound space lntermediately this casing is provided with an inwardly disposed ledge 27 connected by a downwardly disposed portion 529, with an inwardly disposed horizontal portion 30 provided with countersunk holes 31. receiving said bolts 18 and flat heads 20. Spacing collars 32 are disposed on said bolts between said lower face 7 and said horizontal portion 30 to hold the latter spaced while said casing is clamped by the bolts and to provide large sound passages 33 ill between said rim and casing to afford sound passage from the interior of the banjo to said sound space 25 and thence to the exterior.

A vellum disposed over the top edge of said ring terminates in a flesh hoop 36 near the lower part of said vertical face 15. A tension ring 37 resting on said flesh hoop is engaged by tension hooks 38 hooked on the top face of the tension ring and having their threaded lower ends 39 passing through openings of the ledge and receiving nuts 40 engaging the ledge 27 for tensioning the vellum. A downwardly concavo-convexed adjustable amplifying back disposed within and substantially filling the opening formed by said horizontal portion 30 is provided with a central perforation receiving a thumb screw 46 passed through said perforation and into brace bar 47 of the banjo neck 18 and having its head A9 engaging the outer face of the back whereby the back may be adjusted against the spring 50 compressed on the bolt between the extension and back to give a small, an intermediate or full sized sound chamber in the banjo and consequently sharp, intermediate or full volume tone to the banjo.

The banjo is played upon in the ordinary way. The vibration of the vellum sets up vibrations within the interior chamber of the rim, and these vibrations reflected by the adjustable back pass through the openings 16 and passages 33 into the sound space 25 and are reflected thence upwardly to the exterior.

The vibration of the vellum also vibrates the tone band l l and vibration of the vellum and ring is transmitted through the hooks to the ledge 2'. of the outer casing 23. The vibrations of these are in turn added to the vibrations in the space The result is a good full clear tone of excellent quality'.

As the vibrating power of the hook is applied at the ledge 27 to the casing between the lower portion 30 and the vertical outer portion 24., these vibrations are thus amplified by this third order leverage.

In the banjo of Figs. 3 and 4c the rim 5 is shallower and has wide fiat top and bottom faces 6 and 7. The tension ring 10, vertical bolts 18, the annular outer casing 23 and associated parts, except the collars 32, tension ring 37 and rods 38 are similar to the corresponding parts of Figs. 1 and 2.

The deep spacing collars 32 on said bolts 18 between said lower face 7 and the inwardly disposed portion 30 proviue very large deep sound passages 33 b tween said rim and portion. The tension ring 3T has an upwardly extended inner vellum'protecting portion 37, an intermediate horizontal portion 31'' resting on flesh hoop S6, and a downward outer resonating wall 37 spaced from said casing 23. The tension rods 38 pass through said horizontal portion 37 and the ledge 27 and have heads 38 engaging said horizontal portion, and nuts 40 on their lower ends engaging the ledge 27.

Said tone band 15 and rim 5 cooperate with said resonating wall 37 and vertical outer portion 24 to form a large resonating chamber 25 receiving a large volume of sound through the large openings 33 and the openings 16. The resonating back l5 may be provided with this form of the invention.

The structure of the frame of the banjo shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is similar to that of Figs. 3 and l, it being noted that the neck 52 is not provided with a brace bar, and that the lower inturned horizontal portion 30 of the outer casing is provided with a lower annular groove 30 at the inner edge receiving a support-ing disk 53 having a central opening and a scale 54 adjacent thereto. Above this is a downwardly concavo-convexed adjustable amplifying back 55 nearly as large in diameter as the inner diameter of the rim 6 and provided with a central perforation 56 and a marginal recess 57 receiving a vertical rod 58 fast on the rim, to prevent rotation of the back. A guide sleeve 60 concentric with said perforation and having an inwardly pointing key 61 is provided with a lateral flange 62 secured by screws 63 on the inner face of said back, said sleeve receiving a hand screw 65 passed through said perforation, sleeve and openin A collar 66 fast on the screw engages the inner face of the disk 53 and the head 67 of the screw engages the outer face of the disk to hold the screw rotatably in place; and a spi 'al groove 69 on the screw receives said key pin 61, whereby the back may be adjusted by rotation of the screw to give a small, an intermediate or full sized sound chamber in the banjo to give sharp. intermediate or full volume to the banjo. A pointer 70 disposed over the scale 54: facilitates adjustment to the desired size of chamber.

The operation of the amplifying back 55 is the same as the back l5, but has the additional advantage that the chamberwithin the banjo may, as shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 5, be made much smaller in the device of Figs. 5 and 6, since in the latter no brace bar or other structure obstructs the interior of the chamber.

All of the features of the present invention are particularly suitable for drums of various types, as they give good tension and tone and a tone that may be readily changed for different effects; at it is noted that the inventions are not limited either to drums or to banjos.

In the description and claims of this specification, the vellum of the banjo is considered.

to'b'e at the upper" part ofithebanjo and the terminology herein is selected .to 'beconsistent with this. idea.

I' claim: 1i In a'soundanstrument; a'vibratory tone bandilecreasing in thickness from its bottom edge to its top edge for thereby providing azrelatively thin top edge for the tone band.

2. A soundinstrumentincluding a vibratory tone band decreasing in thickness from its bottom edge to its top edge for. thereby providing a' relatively thin top edge for the tone band, and a vellum stretched over said top edge.

3; In a sound instrument, an outer casing having a circular upper wallportion, a lower wall'portionconcentric with said upper wall portion'andconnected thereto by an inwardly extending ledge, and a bottom portion connected' to said lower wall. portion and extending inwardly therefrom.

4. In asound instrument, an outer casing havinga circular upper wall portion, and a lower. wall portion concentric with said upper wall portion and connected thereto by'an inwardly extending ledge, said upper wall portion taperingin thickness from said ledge to the upper edge of the upper wall portion for'providing'a flar'ingly sided interior for the upperwall portion.

5. In a sound instrument, a rim; a tonebandmounted on said". rim and having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of'saidrim' and a head tensloned over andagainsttlie edge of'said'band.

6. In a sound instrument, a run; a tone" on said rim andholdingthe band spaced therefrom bandf 8. In a sound'instrument, in combination, an outer casing having a circular upper wall portion, a lower wall portionconcentric and a head tensioned on said with said upper wall portion and" connected thereto by an. inwardly extending ledge, and

a bottom portionconnected to said lower wall portion and" extending inwardly there'- from in a plane parallel'tothe plane of'said ledge; arim supported on said inwardly extendingbottom portion of'the outer casing; atone band; means cooperating between said rim and toneband for supporting the tone band; a vellum stretched over said tone band; andrneans cooperating between the vellum and said ledge for tensioning the vellum.-

9: In a soundinstrument, in combination, an outer casing having a circular upper wallportion; a-lower wall portion concentric with said upper wall'portion and connected thereto by aninwardly extending ledge, and

sides ofsaid u Jer wall ortion-' assa es for sound betweensaid rim andtone band into the lastmentionedspace; avellum stretched over saidtone band; and means cooperating between said ledge and vellum for tensioning' the vellum.

10; In a sound instrument, incombination, an outer casing having a circular upper wall portion, a lower wall portionconcentric withsaidupper wall portion andconnected thereto by an inwardly extending ledge,.and a bottom portion connected to said lower wall portion and-extending inwardly there fromin a plane parallelto said ledge, said. bottom portion being cut away to provide an openingin' the outer casing; a rim; means for'supporting said rim on said bottom portion so that the outer" sides oithe'rini are spaced. away from the inner sides of said lower andnipper wall portions; passages for sound between said rim and'bottom portion into said space between the rim and said lower and upper wall portions; a tone band; means cooperating between said rim and tone band for su imorting the'tone'band so that outer sides of the tone band are spaced away from the'inner sides of saidupper wallportion; passages for sound between said rim and tone band into the last mentioned space; a vellum stretched over said tone band; means cooperating between said ledge and vellum fortensioning the vellum and sound.

amplifying meansdi posed adjacentto said opening'at the bottom of the outer casing and adjustably movable towards or away from said vellum.

11. In a sound instrument, in combination, an outer casing having a circular" upper wall portion and a lower wall portion concentric with said upper wall portion and connectedthereto by an inwardly extending, ledge; atone band supported in said casin a vellum stretched over said tone band; and means cooperating between the vellum and said ledge for tensioning the vellum.

12. In a sound instrument, an annular member; a diaphragm disposed over said member; a tension ring disposed around said member and pressing down the edge of said diaphragm and comprising outer, inner and intermediate portions; and tension means for said diaphragm including rods passing through the intermediate portion of said tension ring.

18. In a sound instrument, an annular member; a diaphragm disposed over said member; a flesh hoop secured to the edge of said diaphragm; a tension ring on said hoop comprising an intermediate portion, and a downwardly extended vibratory outer wall spaced from said member and hoop to form a resonating chamber therewith; and tension means engaging said ring.

let. In a sound instrument, a rim; a tone band mounted on and spaced from the rim to form a sound passage therebetween; a diaphragm disposed over said band; a flesh hoop secured to the edge of said diaphragm; a tension ring comprising an upwardly extended inner portion projecting above said diaphragm, an intermediate horizontal portion resting on said hoop, and a downwardly extended outer wall spaced from said hoop and band and projecting below said band; tension means engaging said ring; and an outer casing; a lower portion dis posed under and spaced from the rim and a side wall around and spaced from the rim and having its edge near said downwardly extended wall.

15. In a sound instrument, a rim; a diaphragm disposed over said rim; a tension ring pressing down the edge of said diaphragm and comprising an intermediate iorizontal portion, and a downwardly ex tended outer wall spaced from said rim and forming a resonating chamber therewith; and an outer resonator casing having an inturned lower horizontal portion spaced from said rim, and an upwardly extended resonator side wall spaced "from said rim and outer wall and forming a resonating chamber therewith supplementing said first named resonating chamber.

l6. In a sound instrument, a rim; an upwardly disposed tone band on said rim and having a diameter greater than the outside diameter of the rim; a diaphragm tensioncd on said band; and on outer resonator casing having an inturned lower portion below and spaced from said rim, and an upwardly extended side wall spaced t'rom said riui and band and cooperating with said rim and band to form a resonating chamber forming a sound outlet.

17. In a sound instrument, a rim; a thin tone band ugwardl disposed on top of said rim and having a diameter greater than the out 'le diameter of the rim; a diaphragm disposed on said band; a tension ring pressing down the edge of said diaphragm and comprising an intermediate horizontal portion, and a downwardly extended outer wall spaced from said rim and band and forming a resonating chamber therewith; and an outer resonator casing having an inturned lower horizontal portion below and spaced from said rim to form a sound passage thereetween, and an upwardly extended side wall having a greater diameter than the outer wall and spaced from said rim, band and outer wall and cooperating with said rim, band and outer wall to form a resonating chamber, supplementing said first named chamber.

18. In a sound instrument, a rim; an annular member secured a distance beneath the lower part of said rim to form a sound passage therebetween and having a portion of larger diameter than the rim; a head disposed over said rim; and tension means for said head including tension rods passing through said portion.

19. In a sound instrument, a rim; an outer casing spaced from said rim to form a sound passage and resonating chamber therewith and having an intermediate hori zontal portion, an inturned lower portion and a dowmvardly extended part between said portions; a head disposed over said rim; and tension means therefor including tension rods passing through said intermediate portion.

it). in a sound instrument, a rim; an outer casing spaced from said rim to form a sound mssage and resonating chamber the between and having a lower horizontal portion beneath said rim; spacing members engaging said rim and horizontal portions; n'ieans engaging said rim and portion for holding said portion on and spaced from the rim; and a head tensioned over said rim.

21. in a sound irn-itrument, a rim; a. head mounted on the rim; an amplifying back beneath and movable toward and from the head and relative to said rim while the tension ol? the head is constant; and means including a scale and indi 11101 for indicating the position of the back relative to said head.

22. In a sound instrun'zent, a rim; a head tensione'd over said rim; a supporting member secured under said head having a central opening therein and a scale thereon adjacent to said openin a resonating amplify ing back beneath said head and above said supporting member and movable relative to said rim, head and member; and a screw.

nally immovable relative to said. member,

passed through said supporting member a in! having screw connection with'the amplifying back.

2 1. In combination, a rim; an annular member:having a portion secured under and spaced from'the rim; a headtensioned over said rimra supporting mei'nl'ier secured to said portion; an amplifying back above said.

su j porting member beneath said head and said supporting member, ba k and sleeve and held longitudinally immovable relative :to said supporting :member and having a spiral groove receiving said pin.

25. In a sound instrument, an annular rim;,an annular member having an annular portion secured beneath and spaced from the rim to form a sound passage between said rim and member from the interior of the rim; a head tensioned over said rim; and an amplifying back a'djustably movable from below the lowest plane of said rim within said member to positions Within the rim for adjustably partially or completely closing said passage from the interior of the rim.

26. In combination, a. rim; an annular member having a portion secured under and spaced from the rim; a head tensioned over said rim; a supporting member secured to said portion; a substantially disk-shaped amplifying back above said members and movable into said rim and provided with a marginal recess; a vertical rod fast in said rim and engaging in said recess for preventing rotation of the back; and a screw passed through said supporting mcmber and having screw connection with the back.

27. In a sound instrument, a? rim; an outer casing entirely spaced from the rim to form a sound passage between the rim and casing and having an upper edge portion. and a lower edge portion secured to the rim; a head disposed over said rim; and tension means therefor connected to an intramarginal portion of the casing between said edge portions.

28; In a sound instrument, a rim; a tone band spaced from said rim and provided with lugs; bolts passed through said lugs and rim and having lower heads; an outer casing having a vertical outer portion spaced from said band and rim, and an inwardly disposed lower horizontal portion spaced below and from the rim and provided with countersunk holes receiving said bolts and heads; spacing members on said bolts be tween said rim and horizontal portion; and a vellum tensioned over said band.

29. In a sound instrument, a rim; a tone band comprising :vmain portion spaced from said run andspaced lugs mounted on said rim; an outer casing comprising anupper portion spaced 1'01}!iSflltl biLlltlklllll run, an

intermediate ledge and a lower.- horizontal portion below and spaced from the rim: bolts passed through said lugs and rim and horizontal portion; spacing meml ers on said bolts betwccnsaid rim and horizontal portion; a vellum disposed over said tomv band and provided with a flesh hoop; a tension ring engaging the flesh hoop; hooksengaging the tension ring and passing through said'ledge; and nuts on the lower end ofthe hooks.

30. In a sound instriunent, a rim; a metal tone band having downwardly and inwardly slanting lugs secured on said rim; theuppcr part of the band comprising a main portion spaced from said rim; an outer casing having a vertical outer portion spaced fromsaid band and rim an inwardly disposed ledge. and an inwardly disposed lower horizontal portion secured to and spaced from the rim; a vellum disposed over said band; a tension ring engaging said vellum; hooks on the tension ring and passing throughsaid ledge; and nuts on the lower ends of the hooks.

31. In a sound instrument, a rim; a metal tone band having downwardly and inwardly slanting lugs terminating on said rim; the upper part of the band comprising a main portion spaced from said rim; bolts passed through. said lugs and rim and having lower heads; an outer casing having a vertical outer port-ion spaced from said band and rim, an inwardly disposed ledge, and an inwardly disposed lower horizontal portion spaced from the rim 'and provided with countersunk holes receiving said bolts and heads; spacing collars on said bolts between said rim and horizontal portion; a vellum disposed over said band; a tension ring engaging said vellum; hooks on the tension ring and passing through said ledge; and nuts 011 the lower ends of the hooks.

32. In a sound instrument a wooden rim having flat top and bottom faces and vertical .boltholes passing through the mid line of said faces; a solid aluminum tone band having downwardly and inwardly slanting lugs terminating in flat perforated ears lying flat on said top face of the rim; the upper part of the tone band being of upwardly tapering cross-section: the tone band being spaced from said ring whereby large sound openings are formed between said lugs; a casing having an upper portion spaced from said band and rim, and a lower horizontal portion spaced from the rim: bolts passed through said ears, holes and horizontal portion; spacing members on said bolts between said bottom face and said horizontal portion; and a vellum tensioned over said band.

33. In a sound instrument, a rim; a tone band spaced above said rim to provide a sound outlet therebetween; an annular outer casing having a vertical outer portion spaced from said rim, and an inwardly disposed portion spaced from said rim; a vellnm disposed over said band and terminating in a flesh hoop; a tension ring resting on said flesh hoop and having an upwardly extended vellum protecting inner portion, and a downwardly extended outer resonating wall. spaced from said casing; tension means connecting said ring and casing for tensioning the vellum: said band and rim cooperating with said wall and. casing to form a resonating chan'iber.

34. In combination, a rim; a tone band having lugs mounted on said rim tor forming large sound openings between the lugs; an annular outer casing having; a vertical outer portion spaced from staid band and rim an inwardly disposed ledge, and an in wardly disposed lower portion; countersunk holes receiving said bolts anl heads; spacing means between said rim and said inwardly disposed portion providing sound passages between said rim and portion; a vellum disposed over said band and terminating in a flesh hoop; a tension ring resting on said flesh hoop and having an inner upwardly extended vellum protectinp portion an intermediate horizontal portion and a downwardly extended outer resonating *a-ll spaced from said casing: and strain rods passing through said horizontal portion and said ledge and having heads engagin; said horizontal. portion.

Signed at. New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 5th day of October A. D. 1923.

WILLIAM L. LANGE. 

